New or Used: A Soccer Mom, Off The Radar

Ryan writes:

Sajeev and Steve,

I’ve got a 2006 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon that I’ve had since new as my only car. It was my first new car and I got it right out of college. It is configured exactly as I planned and I still love it today just as much as when I bought it, and best of all, it’s paid off. I live in Denver and take the Jeep up on mountain trails and explore the Utah desert from time to time. Still, with 80,000 miles on the clock, the 4×4 is aging a bit. My plan is to retire the Jeep from its daily burdens and add a more sensible daily driver.

Camcords or a Fusion would be logical, but I’d like something a bit more sporting, but nothing crazy-go-nuts. Understated ability is what I’m after with a max budget around $20,000. After tackling a sizable car payment right out of college, I’m very gun shy about going with a new car again. I’m narrowing in on a previous generation Legacy GT or possibly a Mazda 6. Unlike the previous New or Used reader, I drove a new Legacy GT in 09 and loved it so much I came close to trading in the Jeep on it, but then I slapped myself back into reality. The Mazda has always held my attention, but I’ve got no experience with it.

A misguided friend of mine incessantly criticizes my affection for the Legacy on the basis that it is a quintessential soccer mom car. Despite his grossly inaccurate assessment of the Subie’s market, it underlies the fact that I’m looking for something a little off the radar, but pleasantly confident, inspiring, and enjoyable to drive. Do you have any ideas as to such a daily driver to compliment my Jeep or assessments of my “soccer mom” choices?

Sajeev Answers:

None of your Soccer Mom choices are bad, but perhaps your quest for something “a little off the radar” means you should buy a stereotypical mommy-mobile and hot rod the hell out of it. The V6 Camry, Accord V6, Fusion Sport (Appearance Package), or if you’re truly insane about being stealthy quick, a used Lexus ES or Lincoln MKZ. Yes, I said “quick” in the same sentence as these cars.

You are dying for a Q-ship, there’s no doubt about it. While these cars are all terrible for you in many ways, they all become moderately awesome with the right suspension upgrades: understeer reducing rear swaybars, for starters. Sticky tires, summer units since you have a Jeep as a spare vehicle. Bilstein-esque or Koni-ish types of shocks. And chassis braces to stiffen up the undercarriage bits a touch, as seen here. Plus, a Hondata or SCT tune to wake up the air-fuel ratios and transmission scheduling.

Steve Answers:

If you like the car and it’s worth the 20k to you, buy it. There is nothing wrong whatsoever with buying a ‘soft’ car because as time goes by, the hard riding one can be an absolute bear as a daily driver.

Your ‘shoes’ are different from my shoes. My shoes stipulate that a youthful ride like yours should be worn until they start showing serious wear. Then get them resoled. In automotive terms this would mean getting new tires, struts, shocks, and perhaps even a nicer stereo system. Those items will collectively cost less than 10% of your new car and should usually last the next five to seven years.

Sajeev’s advice may be too buy. But to me the bigger question is whether you can ‘invest’ given what you have. For the love and passion of owning a truly covetous vehicle like a Wrangler Rubicon, I would recommend that route.

Need help with a car buying conundrum? Email your particulars to mehta@ttac.com, and let TTAC’s collective wisdom make the decision easier… or possibly much, much harder. In a rush? Don’t be shy about asking to cut in line.